Top Ron DeSantis aides have ties to James Fishback, a controversial GOP candidate for Florida governor

While Gov. Ron DeSantis has not endorsed in the governor's race, at least two top aides have been in touch with James Fishback.

A top aide to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been communicating with Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, a controversial figure who has denied any interactions with the governor’s political orbit.

The aide, Christina Pushaw, has spoken to Fishback, his top adviser and Fishback’s uncle — South Florida investor and real estate mogul Fred Fishback — about Fishback’s gubernatorial campaign, according to a person familiar with the relationship and Fishback’s uncle.

Last month, Fishback jumped into the 2026 Republican primary to succeed DeSantis — who is term-limited and cannot run again — as a pro-DeSantis candidate who backs the outgoing governor’s agenda. The front-runner is currently Rep. Byron Donalds, who has Trump’s endorsement but is at odds with DeSantis. It’s widely believed the governor is still looking for a candidate to support.

Those in DeSantis’ political orbit have pushed back against claims that they are helping or advising Fishback, whose prolific social media presence has faced criticism. Fishback has repeatedly called Donalds, who is Black, a “slave” to his political donors, and he has praised followers of Nick Fuentes, a far-right activist known for his white nationalist and antisemitic views, as “impressive.”

When asked about any ties to Fishback’s orbit, Pushaw said she was not working for the campaign.